Heritage city

Canterbury

Canterbury’s past is as rich as it comes

“Canterbury’s past is as rich as it comes” says the latest Lonely Planet guide to Britain. This world-famous cathedral city was one of medieval Europe’s great places of pilgrimage and knowledge. Today – with its international visitors and three Universities – it still has a distinctly cosmopolitan feel. Less than an hour from London, it’s in that corner of England that’s almost touching France.

People come here from across the globe for world-class heritage, for culture and festivals, to visit and to study, to shop, eat and hang out. The extraordinary Cathedral dominates the medieval streets within the city walls. Among the listed buildings, a boldly modern theatre – named after the city’s famous son Christopher Marlowe – has been built on the river bank, and an art museum has been restored and doubled in size. To the south is St Augustine’s Abbey, part of the World Heritage Site, and England’s first seat of learning.

Canterbury Cathedral:Canterbury Cathedral is the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Cathedral is both a holy place and part of the World Heritage Site. It is the home of a community of people who seek to make the Cathedral a place of welcome, beauty and holiness. We hope you will be inspired to visit Canterbury and the Cathedral and we look forward to welcoming you.

World Heritage Site:The UNESCO World Heritage Site includes the Cathedral but also encompasses St Martins Church, the oldest still in use as a parish church in the world and used by St Augustine when he arrived in Canterbury in AD 597 and St Augustines Abbey. This great abbey, marking the rebirth of Christianity in southern England, was founded around AD 598 by St Augustine and was originally created as a burial place for the Anglo-Saxon kings of Kent.

Food glorious food!Set within the Garden of England, Canterbury has great restaurants using local ingredients to produce amazing cooking from around the world. Try the Goods Shed Farmers Market next to Canterbury West Station to taste local produce from brilliant beer to champion cheese!

This site is jointly produced by the Heritage Cities Group (the tourist authorities for Bath, Cambridge, Carlisle, Chester, Durham, Greenwich, Lancaster, Lincoln, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and York). It gives you ideas for planning a trip to all or a combination of our cities.